speedwagon

Have a backhoe and a place picked out under where a horse is buried. john

Back to the original question. An S&P Index fund (one with a very low operating cost) is the best way to avoid the risk of downturns. Look up a chart for the S&P and I would bet that if you could have bought it in early 1929 and kept till today, you would be considered very wise. If you want to learn-- start studying the market, Books about Warren Buffet, and one by Alexander Graham would be wonderful if you can find them. Then take a small amount and practice (no more than you could gamble on the lottery with). If you do good with a small amount , only then raise the anti a tad. but keep your "insurance" in a safe (for you) place. But a well managed S&P 500 indexfund is the best hedge against both a market down turn and a currency devalue loss. Unless you are willing to take risks- and that is called "gambling".

Of course, there are no bad files left. Remember tricky Dick? white wash by the loyal followers. f

Listen to CROCK!!! I will add a bit 401k or IRA if you are in a lower tax bracket, for any reason ( I too a couple of years off) move your 401k to an IRA and then move as much as you feel comfortable PAYING THE TAXES on, into a Roth IRA where it will avoid taxes on gains, and any time you can afford the taxes put all you can into it. Talk to an accountant about the rules for this action if you cannot learn yourself, as there are some pitfalls. But the larger percent you have of your wealth in a Roth IRA the better off you will be. As for what to buy--- something you can understand (not a fad) and would be confident that it would survive a long downturn ( you do not want an ENRON). I would shoot for 20% gain long-term but as Crock said be happy with 10% you will still be ahead of the average. For the timid investigate the Vanguard company mutual funds (vanguard is investor owned, much like a credit union ) If any adviser advertises $$ heavily avoid. DO NOT Listen to any of the yokels on TV ( they want your money). this is my take and should be taken as just that I am not rich, just OK, not real smart just curious, and have lost a lot at times, but managed to keep a bit. And this is the most helpful web site that I have encountered, because of the people.

I have a few titles that are worth a lot less in the last 6 months.

AS a PS I think the biggest risk today is the dollar itself. In Mexico- never a peso account except for pocket money, but instead an equity account that didn't depreciate with the peso. USA is now a third world country (and not a fast developing one at that).

CROCK: I wasn't exactly being truthful when I said scared shitless. I have lived well over an 120 year equivalent in my 84, and nothing scares me. But there sure is a unknown out there. AND thanks for the advice, but the real estate is personal and suits me just fine, the other two have served me well for many years. VGT is risky indeed, and Berkshire is too cumbersome to start outperforming the s&p 500 again (although it has surprised me before) My various retirements are SS and well managed by real fiduciary s. My assessment recently was that I could hop a shuttle to the airport with my passport, fly to Oaxaca city rent a place near the square and live well till the end. But I have been looking int at least one alternative to VGT that performs better now and is not so loaded with tech. and is actively managed. My options are open for BRK-B but I am not risk reluctant, but wish to be isolated to down turns as best as possible my last two helpers there, were Michal J Price and Peter Lynch. But your options bear looking into even the on the risk/reward ratio I am always able to go for the reward long time. If I am still here in five years we will look back. john

MV8 you are right. And these should be extended to include elected positions, and appointees. (You covered it quite well).

Crock; I defer to your better memory of history. I used Hoover as he is the most remembered for serving during it. and yes the root cause can usually be traced back to a few years in history. But almost always caused by uncontrolled greed. And on both sides of the isle I might add. There are virtual no innocents involved. As documentation just research the insider trading done by our executive and congressional branches, not to mention the kangaroo court. but in the turd pile are a few fine people who actually have the integrity that they would have us believe. Notice that I did not use the term "moral compass". but we are in agreement, while I secretly hope we are both wrong. john And even if I were in my prime years, there is now way that I WOULD BE A CANDIDATE FOR SOME TIME. Excuse the caps please, it will be an impossible job with very little thanks even if done well. I used to be a patriot.

For the investment purposes,,, the damage is done, the effects are starting to show today will be looked back upon as the second hoover admin. the selling of toys by the lower middle income people is now in process, repo madness isn't far behind. will there be a turnaround? the last one took ww2 and we do not have the facilities nor the credit for that. cash should be king, but I see a badly deflating dollar ( inflation without any benefits). What to do? I do not know. right now I am debt free, and saving $, equity split 20% real estate 40% Berkshire Hathaway, and 40% vanguard VGT. Scared shitless, 84yr old, and looking for a safe haven. Still buying grossly under valued quickly sold stuff with these words to the seller"you should not be selling to me at this price, you can get more with a bit of better marketing" so that they know what i am doing. If this works and I loose 95% during the bust I will still have more than if nothing were done. and what I don't get sold my heirs can sell as antiques if there is a future. This is not a recommended option but instead info that may used and modified to what is a good strategy. Cuz I sure do not know. This may seem political but it is meant to be common sense. john PS you sort of asked so you got it.

back in the day, and in the military we did not accept any equipment that did not include a complete manual including schematics. seems like a good practice to me, however I do not have enough power as a consumer to enforce this. So I just try to avoid (when possible) not having them. in many cases I just back engineer something so that I have the info, or just don't do business with scussballs!!

At 84, I had prostrate cancer about 20 years ago. It was taken care of and gone. But I was left with some limits on bladder and bowel control. Exercises help but with an aging body it takes about 4 hrs daily to retain the ability to walk and not fall. Getting old is the shits, but at least my "give a shiter" also doesn't work either. But I am mostly still here. Poor posture in the seat and weaker lower body muscles, and don't try sex with either a full bladder or bowel. john

wrong is wrong and right is right, BUT be kind to your neighbors. but do not forget to vote. john

Not having a lot of luck with my obs ford pickup fuel pumps, I was taken back when seeing "famous brand" designed by Carter (likely copied/ hi-graded) . In my shop Carter is a dirty word. But do have an escape/tribute setting outside dead that recently ran with one dead cyl. might actually be a usa pump pr perhaps jdm.

deman---- the car is priced as right as possible- toys are being offered like hot cakes in my area (sign of the times) so if it were me I would hold it unless someone comes to their senses as to where prices are really going for new ones. ( I have stuff advertised for sale but not being busy with the phone calls) As for get-togethers, there are a few near to you but while I am in Arizona it is more like bmfegipt here. I do think there is one owner in Kingman but have never met him. As for me, it is 1.5 miles of poor sort of graded and a large wash before reaching "dust abatement" as the lacking pavement is called here. Live not far from Hermit road as it is aptly called. I like it. but definitely not 7 country. john